THE TRAINING DEBATE: RECOGNIZING THE DIVERSITY OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE IN CANADA.

The article discusses the shortage of school psychologists in Canada and the need to address this issue by examining the limited availability of training programs and understanding the roles of current practitioners. It highlights that most school psychologists have master's or specialist level training, while fewer psychologists with doctoral training choose to work in schools. The article also mentions the lack of formal recognition for master's or specialist programs in school psychology and the inconsistent recognition of training by regulatory bodies across provinces. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and utilizing the contributions of specialist-trained school psychologists and advocates for integrating the strengths of both master's and doctoral programs to create a diverse and responsive workforce. The article concludes by addressing the challenges in school psychology, such as the psychologist-to-student ratio and the need for robust mental health support for Canadian children and youth. [Extracted from the article]